Culture Shock

By Steven Robert Allen

"Vota PSOE," a 1979 poster created by José Ramón Sánchez. Sam L. Slick Collection of Latin American and Iberian Posters in the Center for Southwest Research, UNM.

Despite Spain's advanced age, the country only became a democracy in 1975 after a long hard struggle. The history of that struggle is commemorated in a new exhibit called The Art of Democracy: Fifty Years of Spain's Political Posters (1930s-1980s). The show is exactly what it says it is, marking roughly the period from the Spanish Civil War right up through the country's transition to democracy. The exhibit opens this weekend at UNM's Zimmerman library and will remain on display through Sept. 7. For details, call Teresa at 277-1010.

The yearly environmental art show The Land just opened last weekend at its usual site near Mountainair. This year the group show was curated by Mayumi Nishida and features work by Rebecca Blankley, Terry Bluhm, Kendra Brock, Thomas Cates, Sheri Crider, George Immerwahr, Ted Laredo, Margit Morawietz, Scott Palsce, Rachel Stevens, Jeffrey Valdo and Anna Westfall.

Although the opening reception has come and gone, this isn't a typical art gallery event: No one comes here to schmooze. You'll be happy strolling around the site all by your lonesome. The Land will be on display through July 31 and is open to visitors Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

To get there from Albuquerque, take I-25 just south of Belen to route 60. Head east toward Mountainair. Four miles west of Mountainair, at mile marker 201, turn left on to Golf Course Road. Go straight one half mile past a stop sign until the road takes a sharp turn to the right. Do not turn. Go straight through the gate for another quarter mile, and you'll see a parking area beside the site. To return to Albuquerque, click your heels together three times and dream of your Auntie Em. For details, call Tom at 242-1501 or e-mail theland@comcast.net.